3D Printing and Ventilation

[vprajapati]

Hi there guys,

My name is Vim and I am currently planning to design my final year project at University, and currently am in need of the 3D Printing community!

I was hoping some kind people would be able to happily answer the following questions if possible:

1) What type of 3D Printer do you own, and what model is it?

2) What are the estimated XYZ measurements of the room in which your 3D Printer sits inside.

3) What are the usual methods of ventilation that you utilise if you operate your 3D Printer and need to freshen the air a bit.

4) Last but not least, can you give me 1 or 2 details on how you feel about the levels of toxicity produced by 3D Printing with certain filaments (most probably ABS, HIPS, PC, etc), along with any reports that you may have read that detail the amounts of toxins in the air when 3D Printers are in operation.

Many thanks guys, I sure do appreciate it!

Many thanks, Vim

[bellair3D]

1) Prusa i3 MK2

2) 10ft x 20ft x 8ft (also multiple windows)

3) My printer is in a custom built box and then I have a fan, similar to one you would find in a computer, sucking air directly out of that box and through a duct out a window. Very similar to a fume hood.

4) PLA isn’t bad at all, ABS is terrible I always use ventilation when I’m printing with ABS. And then PETG and other co-polyesters/ nylons I really don’t exactly know because I just use the fan with those to be safe. But ABS is really bad, no idea on the levels of toxins, but either way I try to get rid of as much of it as fast as possible.

[BITSolutions]

1) I own 4 FDM printers - Flashforge Creator Pro, Qidi Tech I, XYZPrinting daVinci 1.0 Pro, and a custom-made delta.

2) They will eventually be in a room about 20 ft x 20ft x 9 ft with duct ventilation. Right now I have 2 in my kitchen (open floor plan maybe 60ft x 30ft x 9ft) and 2 in my “dining room” (30ft x 20ft x 9ft).

3) I don’t print much ABS, but when I do it’s on my FFCP in the dining room. I open windows in that room and put a box fan in the window to draw out the air. All printers except the delta are completely enclosed and I never print ABS on the delta.

4) When I first started 3D printing, my printer (the FFCP) was in the 20x20x9 room and I used ABS a lot. I watched my printer constantly during the beginning (it was exciting!) and ALWAYS got a headache if I was in that room too much (I didn’t know much about ABS and had no ventilation.) I don’t worry about PLA toxicity. I did recently see a report on toxins with ABS and will try to locate it and post it here.

Hope this helps!

–Julie

[BITSolutions]

Found it!

5 Reasons Why ABS Plastic Needs To Go Away

[snoobler]

I love the smell of ABS in the morning. Enclosed Da Vinci “Turdmaker” 1.0A. I keep it in an unventilated 7x16’ utility room. The enclosure contains most of the smell. My purpose for getting this printer and printing in ABS resulted in about 160 hours of near non-stop ABS printing. I did not experience any negative physical effects during this period.

[vprajapati]

Hi Guys,

Many thanks to snoobler, Belair3D, and BITSolutions for your replies. and keep them coming!

This research is quite valuable and will very much help with the direction of my project.

I will give each of you replies later today

Many thanks

Vim

[vprajapati]

Hi Snoobler,

Thanks for your response, yep got my ABS-emitting alarm clock all set up now

Ah i see, and is that an enclosure you have built yourself? Or one you have purchased?

Many thanks

Vim

[vprajapati]

Hi Julie,

Many thanks for your comments, ah wow quite a fleet of printers!

OK I see, ah that’s a nice simple way to get rid of the smell. Does that work quite well then in terms of removing the smell of ABS?

Haha yes i have the same issue in getting headaches! Studies have shown that prolonged exposure at one time could make people feel dizzy or give them headaches. This doesn’t happen to everyone necessarily, however different people will feel different effects such as nausea, toxicity, irritation, or even nothing at all.

Also if you were interested here is a link to one of the studies I’ve been reading:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.7b01454#showFigures

It basically details which filaments emit the most Nanoparticles, and details some advisory notifications as a result of the study.

Thank you Julie

[vprajapati]

Hi Bellair3D,

Thank you for your reply.

Ah i see, and do you notice any hint of smells at all with the enclosure working? Also which room is your Prusa i3 in can i ask?

Yes currently my research shows ABS many particles, which consists of Styrene and Ethylbenzene. They are linked to causing headaches, nausea and dizziness if you have prolonged exposure to it, so very wise to use the fan!

Also see the reply to Julie’s message for a little more detail on effects and there’s a link too to one of the studies ive been looking at.

Many thanks

Vim

[snoobler]

The unit comes in an enclosure.

[ProtoCulture]

1. FormLabs Form2 (with 99% Isopropyl alcohol cleaning station)

2. 9’ x 13’ x 7’

3. None.

4. I am completely unconcerned with FDM filaments and whatever they off-gas, with resin printers I only care if the resin has a bad smell. Too many people need gluten-free or similar air. You should see the laser forums and anyone mentioning cutting PVC, you would think you are killing everyone in your house and all neighbors within 500’ if you laser cut a vinyl record.

[vprajapati]

Hi Protoculture,

Many thanks for your reply, ah nice printer!

That is fair enough, it is interesting seeing how whats emitted affects some people and has no effect at all on others.

Many thanks

Vim

[vprajapati]

I should probably post my own answers to the question!

1) FDM Printer, Flashforge Dreamer Dual Extruder - its mostly enclosed, however it does have some vents on the side.

2) 3.5m x 3m x 2m Room Size (sitting in my personal room)

3) I tend to crack open a window or keep my room door open, however if I’m printing with ABS then I’ll put an air purifier next to the printer

4) Before I started research I was kind of oblivious to the smell since at the time I was working for a design consultancy and thought the headaches i got when we were 3D Printing ABS on the Zortrax M200 was just stress/lack of sleep. However looking back after looking at the research into chemicals released during the FDM process and the symptoms if prolonged exposure occurs, it may have been related to having the printer operating in a small office.

However I’ve been to an injection moulding factory and there it stank of plastic, so really there are no proven long term effects/illness of inhaling fumes… It must depend on the person and how their body reacts to it.

[vprajapati]

Hi Snoobler,

Hope you’re doing ok.

If you were to be convinced and feel the need to purchase an air filter/purifier for your 3D Printer, how much would you be looking to spend? About £50-60 ($65-80)?

Thanks

[vprajapati]

Hi Julie,

Hope you’re doing ok.

If you were to invest in an air filter/purifier device for your 3D Printer, how much would you be looking to spend? About £50-60 ($65-80)?

Thanks

[vprajapati]

Hi Bellair3D,

Hope you’re doing ok.

If you were to ever print with ABS and decide you feel the need to purchase an air filter/purifier for your 3D Printer, how much would you be looking to spend? About £50-60 ($65-80)?

Thanks

[MarkHeller]

Don’t print anything other than PLA and PETG in your home.

The others, especially ABS are toxic.

[snoobler]

Doing fine. Won’t be convinced. I don’t buy into fearmongering about mostly non-issues.

[vprajapati]

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your post.

So you prefer not to 3D Print any objects with ABS filament then? Is that based purely on the fact that they can be toxic when subjected to the melting temperature?

Thanks

Vim

[MarkHeller]

Wait 20 years for the effects. If you start smoking today you won’t feel the effects tomorrow either.

I hope you dont have kids in the house.